When people talk about car damage, they mostly think of large dents from smash-ups. That’s certainly a risk, but you should also worry about more minor dents, dings, and scratches that happen when you open your car door.
Car door protectors claim to help with that problem, but do they really work?
Car door protectors are accessories that prevent damage to your vehicle doors or paint. They reduce impact when your car door hits something as you open it or if something hits it. These products do work to some extent. Read more to know its limits.
This guide will explore the different kinds of car door protectors and how they keep your car free from damage, especially when opening doors in small parking spaces.
Let’s get to it.
What Are Car Door Protectors?
Most of what you need to know about car door protectors are in the name. These products protect your car doors from receiving or causing damage like dings, dents, and paint chips.
These nifty little add-ons are helpful, especially when you leave your car in parking lots. With so many vehicles parked closely to each other, people tend to hit other cars with their doors. That typically happens when people enter or exit their vehicle.
But here’s what’s really interesting about car door protectors: that term can apply to several product categories that share the same goal but go about it differently.
Different Types of Car Door Protectors
You can choose from 3 types of protectors according to what damage they prevent:
- Edge guards – prevents damage from your car door hitting other vehicles.
- Wall bumpers – protects your car door from hitting a hard surface (say, the wall in your garage)
- Removable car door guards – protects from other people’s vehicle doors hitting your car; you can place this guard on your vehicle after you park.
Instead of just exploring one type of door protector, this guide will give you a complete picture of all three types. That way, you can decide which one suits your needs the best.
Do Car Door Protectors Work?
Yes, car door protectors of all kinds will offer your vehicle extra protection against scratches, dings, dents, and paint damage.
Still, you must never forget that there’s a limit to the protection these accessories can provide.
For example, car door protectors of all kinds will undoubtedly reduce paint-related damage like scratches and chips. That’s true for all types – whether you’ve got edge guards on your door, a wall bumper, or a removable door guard.
However, with enough force, your car door can still experience dings and dents even if you have some kind of a protector in the mix.
Overall, the best way to think about car door protectors is to provide a buffer that reduces the damage of an impact and prevents scratches.
They’ll do well against a moderate impact from opening your car door a little too hard, but don’t expect them to make your car doors indestructible.
What Materials Are Car Door Protectors Made of?
Manufacturers make protectors out of one or more materials that can reduce damage to your vehicle doors. Typically, those materials include:
- Rubber
- Rigid and durable plastics
- EVA foam
These days, you can find car door protectors online and in stores at a wide range of prices. Naturally, the ones that cost more usually consist of higher-end materials like EVA foam and durable plastics.
However, car door protectors are the kind of accessories that you can also get really cheap. Those will usually feature more inexpensive rubber or plastic materials that don’t last as long and take as much abuse as the pricier ones.
As far as choosing a car door protector material, you should buy the best kinds you can afford within your budget.
Remember: Car door protectors don’t just have to put up against physical impact. In the Aussie climate, you’ll also want durable materials that can withstand high outdoor temperature and the sun’s UV rays.
What Are the Benefits of Using Car Door Protectors?
Car door protectors of all kinds offer you loads of benefits, including:
- Protects against dents and dings: The most apparent benefit of using car door protectors is to prevent damage from dents and dings, whether it’s your car’s door hitting another vehicle or the other way around.
- Protects the vehicle’s paint job: Besides protecting the body, it will also shield your car’s expensive paint job from scratches and chips on the point of impact (around the door and its edges).
- Maintains the vehicle’s resale value: A car’s resale value drops when it experiences a dent on its body. So, if resale value matters to you, investing in car door protectors will give you plenty of peace of mind in that regard.
Car Door Protector Buying Tips
So, let’s assume you want to invest in some protection for your car doors. Here are some buying tips to consider as you browse your options online or in a car accessory store:
#1. Consider your purpose
As you’ve seen earlier, there are different types of car door protectors. So, the first question you should ask is, what are you protecting your doors against? Do you want to prevent your door from damaging another car or from other vehicles hurting yours?
Or are you looking to prevent damage between your car door and garage wall at home? Your answer to these questions will help you choose the correct product for your needs.
#2. Choose the materials
Next, you’ll also want to consider the kind of materials that make up that door protector. Naturally, better materials will cost you more. But you don’t want to go super cheap either, since they won’t do much to protect your car door.
#3. Pick the design/style carefully
Products like car edge guards will attach to your vehicle’s exterior. So, you’ll want to make sure that the product’s designs and colours don’t clash with your car’s overall aesthetics.
#. Check compatibility
Lastly, you’ll want to ensure that the door protector you buy is compatible with your vehicle. For example, many door edge guards are meant to slide onto the door. But that’s only possible if the door’s design doesn’t prevent that from happening.
Hope you found this helpful!
You can learn more about accessories like car door protectors at CarPartAU. We constantly update our blog section with new guides to help drivers like you take better care of your cars.
By Ray Hasbollah